The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Cobenfy, a breakthrough new drug for the treatment of schizophrenia that promises to revolutionize treatment due to its novel mechanism, for the first time in decades.
Schizophrenia is a serious, disabling mental health condition that affects the way a person thinks, feels and behaves. Approximately 1% of Americans have schizophrenia, making it one of the 15 leading causes of disability worldwide.
Unlike previous schizophrenia treatments that have primarily targeted dopamine receptors, Bristol-Myers Squibb's Cobenfy (formerly KarXT) introduces a new approach that focuses on cholinergic receptors.
Cholinergic receptors are proteins in cell membranes that respond to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. They are essential for nerve signaling, influencing key functions such as memory, cognition and synaptic plasticity, as well as regulating the automatic functions of different organs.
“Schizophrenia is a leading cause of disability worldwide. It is a severe, chronic mental illness that often impairs people's quality of life. This drug represents the first new approach to treating schizophrenia in decades. The approval provides a new alternative to the drug. Press release.
Manufacturer's test results declare The April study showed that more than 75% of participants experienced a greater than 30% improvement in symptoms, with an average reduction of 33.3 points from baseline.
“Today's landmark approval of our first-in-class schizophrenia treatment marks an important milestone for society. More than 30 years later, there is now a completely new pharmacological approach to treating schizophrenia that has the potential to transform treatment. As we re-enter the field of neuropsychiatry, we are committed to changing the conversation around serious mental illness, starting with today's approval for schizophrenia,” Chris Boerner, chairman and CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb, said in a statement said. Press release.
While weight gain is a common side effect of many antipsychotic drugs, the EMERGENT trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of KarXT showed that about 65% of participants lost weight, with an average loss of 2.6 kilograms over one year.
The most common adverse effects of this drug include nausea, indigestion, constipation, vomiting, high blood pressure, abdominal pain, diarrhea, tachycardia, dizziness, and gastroesophageal reflux.
It is recommended not to take this drug if you have problems such as urinary retention, moderate or severe kidney or liver disease, gastric retention, untreated narrow-angle glaucoma, or a history of allergy to cobenfep or its ingredients.